Special Service and Features
IIT Madras partners with Power Grid Corporation of India to provide scholarships to economically weaker students
This contribution of Rs. 10.5 crore from Power Grid Corporation of India, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, is the single largest CSR funding received by IIT Madras in the last financial year for scholarships
Indian Institute of Technology Madras is partnering with Power Grid Corporation of India to launch a scholarship programme for meritorious B. Tech students from economically weaker sections.
The Power Grid Corporation of India is contributing Rs. 10.5 Crore towards creating a scholarship fund as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility  initiatives.This fund would support deservingstudents at IIT Madras, covering their tuition fees through merit-cum-means scholarships. This is the highest single contribution that IIT Madras has received for scholarships underCSR in the financial year 2021-22
Speaking on this occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras’ motto is to be an ‘Institute for all.’ Initiatives like the BSc degree programme and scholarships for deserving students, have made IIT Madras more accessible for everyone. The institute records its sincere thanks to POWERGRID. IIT Madras is also planning to expand such scholarships to all technical institutions across the country.”
A MoU for implementing this CSR-driven initiative was signed today  by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean , IIT Madras, and Shri. V.K.Singh, Director , POWERGRID Corporation of India, in the presence of IIT Madras Director, Prof. V.Kamakoti.
Lauding this initiative to provide scholarships for students from economically weaker sections, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean , IIT Madras, said, “We are grateful to Power Grid Corporation of India for this generous support of scholarships for economically weaker students. They are most deserving of this support, since it is by their sheer hard work that they have made it into this institution. Through this initiative, IIT Madras, as an inclusive institution, is glad to enable students—especially girl students, who need financial support the most.”
Speaking about this scholarship programme, Shri. V.K.Singh, Director , Power Grid Corporation of India, said, “POWERGRID believes that scholarships can be one of the most direct ways to give back to the community. Due to increasing educational costs, students need financial assistance more than ever. Our Scholarship scheme demonstrates POWERGRID’s commitment to education and to future of upcoming generations. I believe that this scholarship will make a real, significant impact on the lives of the benefitted students.”
Inclusive Institute
The ‘Power Grid Endowment scholarship’fund has been created to provide scholarships for B.Tech students from economically weaker sectionson a merit-cum-means basis. Every year many meritorious students from economically weaker sections pursue their education at IIT Madras. The Power Grid Endowment Scholarship will help these bright young students to pursue their education without any economical barrier.
This one-of-its kind scholarship programme will carrya special focus on women students from economically weaker sections with an aim to encourage women in STEM .This scholarship programme helps in amplifying IIT Madras’ principle of being an inclusive institute for students from all economic sections.
Mr. Kaviraj Nair, Chief Executive Officer, Office of Institutional Advancement, IIT Madras, said, “This contribution from Power Grid Corporation of India, is the single largest CSR funding that IIT Madras has received in the last financial year for providing scholarships to students. We are happy to deploy the same funding meaningfully, to support meritorious students in the EWS  category.”
ABOUT IIT MADRAS
Indian Institute of Technology Madras  was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an ‘Institute of National Importance.’ The activities of the Institute in various fields of Science and Technology are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres. The Institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to B.Tech., M.Sc., M.B.A., M.Tech., M.S., and Ph.D., degrees in a variety of specialisations. IITM is a residential institute with more than 600 faculty and 9,500 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here. IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.
Recognized as an Institution of Eminence  in 2019, IITM has been ranked No.1 in the ‘Overall’ Category for the third consecutive year in India Ranking 2021 released by National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. The Institute has also been ranked No.1 in the ‘Engineering Institutions’ category in the same Rankings for six consecutive years – from 2016 to 2021. It was also adjudged as the ‘Top innovative Institution’ in the country in Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements  in 2019, 2020 and 2021. ARIIA Ranking was launched by the Innovation Cell of Ministry of Education.
About Power Grid Corporation
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, is a Schedule ‘A’, Maharatna CPSE, under Ministry of Power, Government of India. Power Grid is the country’s largest Electric Power Transmission Utility - POWERGRID owns and operates nearly 90% of the inter-State transmission network of the country and transmission system availability is consistently maintained over 99%, at par with international utilities, by deploying best Operation and Maintenance practices.It is a listed Company since 2007 and has been consistently ranked ‘Excellent’ under Memorandum of Understanding with Ministry of Power since 1993-94. 51.34% holding of the entity is bythe Government of India and the balance is held by Institutional Investors and public.